Lufthansa 'MyOffer' by Plusgrade [bidding for upgrade to PE, C & F]
Dec 28, 2015, 12:25 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
You miss that they want to keep the price high and don't want to give away seats at any price. Short term revenue might kill long term aims.
Dec 28, 2015, 12:39 am
#92
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 11
Again, I get keeping premium well, ... premium, but what is the point to limit the customer from bidding too low but than not accepting the minimum bid that you yourself allowed?
No complaints, just curious.
My only explanation is that they use it as a tool to judge how much people would be willing to pay regardless of their will to accept said price - but if so:
1. Why put a floor on the bid if you're not going to accept too low ones anyway?
2. It's a little bit misleading the customer as it is presented.
Last edited by gby; Dec 28, 2015 at 12:42 am Reason: typo
Dec 28, 2015, 12:46 am
#93
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,167
Like on ebay. A seller starts with a low price but has a price limit not disclosed. Next time you will have learned and will start with a higher bid, you have communicated in this forum, that the minimum bid might not work and everybody will learn. So even if they were to acct the minimum bid, they can expect higher bids. Mission accomplished.
Dec 28, 2015, 1:19 am
#94
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 11
Well, at least in my specific case it did not work as planned. I have learned that the myOffer bid is an opaque and none rational based procedure so will not participate in the future.
I understand selling off excess stock at a bid, I understand setting a lowest price floor to keep premium product premium. These are rational transparent rules that makes sense.
I don't understand the rules LH is playing under. They are no transparent and so I cannot understand the terms of the deal I am being offered and so will not participate.
No harm done. It's just not how *I* do business.
I understand selling off excess stock at a bid, I understand setting a lowest price floor to keep premium product premium. These are rational transparent rules that makes sense.
I don't understand the rules LH is playing under. They are no transparent and so I cannot understand the terms of the deal I am being offered and so will not participate.
No harm done. It's just not how *I* do business.
Dec 28, 2015, 1:28 am
#95
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,671
HTB.
Dec 28, 2015, 1:53 am
#96
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
3. There were multiple empty seats on P
THe flight was 33% full, including Premium economy.
(save for the food in the China Air lounge in PVG)
Dec 28, 2015, 2:14 am
#97
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Programs: M&M SEN, Amex Plat, Club Carlson, Marriott, HHonors & Accor Gold, Velocity Silver, Qantas Bronze
Posts: 3,767
I guess that, like in any auction, there is a minimum bid (often but not always public) to even start the auction and then there is a reserve (most often not revealed). If the reserve is not reached, auction is off (and often there is direct negotiation between the parties).
Dec 28, 2015, 2:26 am
#98
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,859
Like on ebay. A seller starts with a low price but has a price limit not disclosed. Next time you will have learned and will start with a higher bid, you have communicated in this forum, that the minimum bid might not work and everybody will learn. So even if they were to acct the minimum bid, they can expect higher bids. Mission accomplished.
For the pax sure. But I don't think LH had that in mind when rejecting the bid.
Dec 28, 2015, 5:04 am
#99
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
Just an observation I make quite often:
It's kind of funny that some passengers try to score upgrades. At the same times the same people are sitting in the forward Economy section with some stranger in the next seat to them - while there are many free unoccupied rows in the aft economy section.
I mean if you score a free seat next to you (not too hard to get if the Y cabin is filled only 80%), there is no really good reason to fork over loads of money for premium economy.
It's kind of funny that some passengers try to score upgrades. At the same times the same people are sitting in the forward Economy section with some stranger in the next seat to them - while there are many free unoccupied rows in the aft economy section.
I mean if you score a free seat next to you (not too hard to get if the Y cabin is filled only 80%), there is no really good reason to fork over loads of money for premium economy.
Dec 28, 2015, 7:18 am
#100
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
My best guess would be: terminally sh###y IT which requires human approval at the station and no one chez PVG can be buggered to get involved with such trivial and vulgar things as customer service.
I failed confirmed ugs at that station because the GAs can't be bothered to print a new BP.
Dec 29, 2015, 1:29 am
#101
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 11
Just an observation I make quite often:
It's kind of funny that some passengers try to score upgrades. At the same times the same people are sitting in the forward Economy section with some stranger in the next seat to them - while there are many free unoccupied rows in the aft economy section.
I mean if you score a free seat next to you (not too hard to get if the Y cabin is filled only 80%), there is no really good reason to fork over loads of money for premium economy.
It's kind of funny that some passengers try to score upgrades. At the same times the same people are sitting in the forward Economy section with some stranger in the next seat to them - while there are many free unoccupied rows in the aft economy section.
I mean if you score a free seat next to you (not too hard to get if the Y cabin is filled only 80%), there is no really good reason to fork over loads of money for premium economy.
It was the process that I was curious about.
Dec 29, 2015, 2:43 am
#102
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
Of course, airlines would never allow it, but it would be really cool to know in advance (even if it is only 24 hour before), how full a flight (esp. longhaul) will be.
Online seatmaps and prices are often not a very good indicator. Sometimes I paid a very high price to fly in am empty plane. Sometimes I paid a very low price to fly in a full plane. Therefore, it is impossible to predict loads.
Online seatmaps and prices are often not a very good indicator. Sometimes I paid a very high price to fly in am empty plane. Sometimes I paid a very low price to fly in a full plane. Therefore, it is impossible to predict loads.
Dec 29, 2015, 6:06 am
#104
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: Everything is refundable
Posts: 3,727
Of course, airlines would never allow it, but it would be really cool to know in advance (even if it is only 24 hour before), how full a flight (esp. longhaul) will be.
Online seatmaps and prices are often not a very good indicator. Sometimes I paid a very high price to fly in am empty plane. Sometimes I paid a very low price to fly in a full plane. Therefore, it is impossible to predict loads.
Online seatmaps and prices are often not a very good indicator. Sometimes I paid a very high price to fly in am empty plane. Sometimes I paid a very low price to fly in a full plane. Therefore, it is impossible to predict loads.
For a pro it is easier, calling certain phone numbers might also help...
As pointed out so often, LH is admired in the industry for many things, their booking prediction approach is certainly one factor. It is almost too good to be true how accurate they are.
BTW, do not fall for the usual mistake, how full a flight will be is only one (minor) indicator how much you have to pay for a ticket.
Dec 29, 2015, 6:47 am
#105
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,122
The amount you bid is not the only factor, it is also status, fare paid, time of bid, and likely a bunch of other factors.
No-one can tell you what the secret is to winning a bid but a rule of thumb I've heard is to bid around 30/40% of the difference in fare between the two classes divided by two. E.g. if you paid $1200 for economy and the PE seats are $2400 the minimum would be 3000-1200/2*0.3/0.4=$270-360.
Though in reality - who knows?
No-one can tell you what the secret is to winning a bid but a rule of thumb I've heard is to bid around 30/40% of the difference in fare between the two classes divided by two. E.g. if you paid $1200 for economy and the PE seats are $2400 the minimum would be 3000-1200/2*0.3/0.4=$270-360.
Though in reality - who knows?